Salumi: Where food becomes art

The Porchetta consists of twice roasted tender pork
that pairs magically with grilled onions.

Ten minutes before opening for the day, there are already 14 people lined up outside. By the time the doors open, there are well over 20.

In line, it becomes apparent that this is a standard ritual for most people standing on this tiny corner on 309 Third Avenue South.

"I come here almost every day during the work week," said Jeremy Dupree, who works in a nearby architecture firm. "These are easily the best sandwiches in the city."

For Salumi Artisan Cured Meats, this kind of breathless and reverent praise is common. If Seattle's sandwich wars could be won by hype alone, Salumi would slay all it's competitors. Featuring 431 perfect five star Yelp reviews, a New York Times article and even an endorsement from Anthony Bourdain (who has publicly declared the shop a "holy place"), Salumi's reputation precedes it.

Despite all this, Salumi is easy to miss. A literal hole in the wall, the corner shop is a single door leading into a tiny hallway, unmarked except for a small sign bearing the shop's name above a butcher diagram of a pig. The ever present out-the-door line of people flowing into the shop has to squeeze tightly to get a foot in.

The reason the shop is so popular comes down to one thing: meat.

Salumi is one of the few places in America still faithfully and authentically practicing the age-old art of Italian meat curing. It shows—from the spicy Finocchiona salami to the rare, delicate Culatello ham (almost impossible to find outside of Italy), this is anything but your standard issue deli meat. Each cut is tender, delicious, and bursting with a subtle melange of distinct flavors.

Salumi's meats run the gamut from mild salami to
wildly spicy cuts infused with mole and fennel.

And while you can enjoy the cuts on their own, it's when they are put in a sandwich that they really shine. Placed on an authentic, crusty baguette slathered with olive oil infused garlic spread, and topped off with a cheese of your choosing, sandwiches at Salumi are a transcendent experience. It feels like you are eating a work of art.

Seating at Salumi is scarce—family style when you can get it. This means you are going to be eating next to strangers, which in a way makes the whole experience much more communal. It's easy to bond with people when you already have a delicious sandwich in common.

"Since we've been in Seattle we've come back here everyday," said Derek Hottle, visiting the city from Atlanta with his wife Linda. "I'm still trying to figure out which sandwich is my jam. It's hard to settle on a regular when they are all so damn good."

A sandwich will run anywhere from $7 to $10 on average at Salumi. While that may seem pricey compared to your standard Subway, you get what you pay for.

For Ed Rowley, an electrician, the price is irrelevant.

"I'd gladly go bankrupt eating here," Rowley said. "My wife would kill me, but it'd be worth it."